California-based indie electro-pop act Margot Polo has released his new single ‘Can You Hear Me?’.This vibrant bop is bursting from the seams with Margot Polo’s lush, intricate and dynamic musicianship. Margot Polo is becoming known for passionate, irresistible melodies and ‘Can You Hear Me?’ is a triumphant example of this. Glittery disco elements blend into a pool of shimmering synths while jaunty guitars ripple throughout, adding a dash of zest and edge into the track’s sonic soundscape. With a stomping beat slicing between the sun-kissed psychedelic tones and lush pop sensibilities, Polo creates a refreshing tune laced in hearty melodies and rich production. ‘Can You Hear Me?’ is a catchy upbeat tune that is destined for repeat plays.
Seán Finn has released his new single ‘Summer Is Over’. Originating from rural Ireland, Seán Finn is a multi-instrumental songwriter, grounded in pop and jazz. With a few years of songwriting under his belt, Seán’s homespun style provides a warm and inviting soundscape for his listeners. Seán is currently working together with sound engineer Jack Roulston on a project titled ‘Pencil In Regret’. The project consists of 10 songs that were written before and during the pandemic and ‘Summer Is Over’ is the final single to be released from this upcoming project.
Seán Finn blends retro tones with warm jazz hues, and subtle psychedelia in ‘Summer Is Over’ to create a sweet tune that boasts his vibrant songwriting. The song is lavishly arranged to provide a mellow and bright listening experience as warm guitars weave between rich rhythms and elastic bass grooves. The guitar adds a playful character to the song. It cheerily meanders between melancholy and peppy joy before unfolding into a more distorted psychedelic tone for the trippy crescendo. Finn’s soothing vocals carry the hopeful lyrics “ I know she likes me too” with a cheery and charming quality as the song effortlessly glides into the ears with a mellow and nostalgic tone. ‘Summer Is Over’ is a joy to listen to.
About the track Finn said: “I would describe ‘Summer Is Over’ as my first sincere attempt at writing a single. The production feels like it’s a big step in the right direction for me, it all sounds very clean and proper, yet it still sounds like me. It’s definitely my best song to date. It captures that melancholy feeling when the summer is drawing to a close, and your summer romance didn’t pan out the way you had hoped. Instead of facing the rejection at hand, you decide to focus on the positives. That kind of behaviour will catch up with you eventually, but in the moment it provides a little comfort. It might be naïve, but it’s nice.”
Patrick Stefan (formerly Paj) has released his new single ‘Anna’.Irish-born, half Dutch singer-songwriter Patrick Stefan would describe himself as a bit of a musical polyglot, having lived and performed in America, Brazil and West Africa, and played with some of Ireland’s leading musicians (including Loah, Fehdah, Uly, and rising R&B star Aby Coulibaly). He even has performance credits alongside Eurovision winner Luisa Sobral, and Irish fiddler Martin Hayes, as part of the award-winning band Ensemble Ériu. After completing his Masters in Global Music & Pedagogy at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Berklee College of Music graduate began releasing the bulk of his solo material under his former moniker, Paj. Stefan’s folk/jazz group, Leafzang, also released their eponymous album in 2011. ‘Anna’ is the first single Stefan is releasing under his real name and was written about his fateful meeting with the Airbnb host. The song heralds the announcement of his forthcoming album, slated for 2022 release.
‘Anna’ ebbs and flows with Patrick Stefan’s emotive and lush musicianship. He creates an ethereal laid back tune through refreshing instrumentation and airy soundscapes. The track has a mellow and passionate tone, enhanced by a supple guitar intro, wispy electronics and earthy marimba. Stefan blends smoky melodies and warm jazz keys with hypnotic rhythms and intricate arrangements to create a unique and mesmerising tune for listeners to enjoy. The lyrical tenderness is soothing to the ears “you don’t know how precious you are,” as Stefan’s velvety vocals caress the dreamy melody to create a pacifying and comforting listening experience. Doused in lo-fi tones, R&B elements, and silken melodies, ‘Anna’ is simply a delight to the ears.
Zimbabwean-Irish singer-songwriter, shiv returns with her new single ‘Where You Are’.The track is taken from the upcoming EP ‘The Love Interlude’ set for release on October 8th. shiv – the moniker of Siobhan McClean – has been keeping herself busy behind the scenes with the four-track audio-visual EP, shot in 16mm film. Using seasonal visionary and music to represent the emotions we experience in the cyclical and ever-changing journey of love, the songs on the body of work represent each season of the year and will be accompanied by a short-film type visual.
‘Where You Are’ flows with intricate melodies, opulent lo-fi tones and soulful hues as shiv creates a luxuriant and compelling new tune to indulge in. Within each crevice of the song, a new sound is revealed – from jazz flavours on saxophone and piano to buoyant hip hop rhythms and chic retro melodies, shiv changes the landscape of the track regularly to keep the listener intrigued while her magnificent soulful vocals anchor the listener within the tracks ever changing soundscape. ‘Where You Are’ is a joy to listen to and superbly expresses the chaotic journey of love through changing musical arrangements and masterful songwriting. Press play and enjoy.
About the track shiv said: “We have been fed a narrative of a perfect kind of love, that is effortless and uncomplicated, that means that you will find someone who fits every part of you flawlessly. More often than not, this isn’t the case, it’s the imperfection that makes love fulfilling, it’s in learning and growing that you find happiness that is gratifying because of the time you have spent nurturing it.”
Jonas Glamann has released his new single ‘Trying To Love Again’ – a heartfelt and sincere message capturing a nostalgic vibe and a bittersweet sense of longing for feelings in a relationship that are no longer what they used to be. Based in Germany, Jonas Glamann creates music to reflect on. Having started playing the guitar at the young age of 7, and joining his first band at 11, Glamann has quite the musical background.
‘Trying To Love Again‘ presents Jonas Glamann’s richly emotive and warm songwriting through lush melodies and glowing instrumentation. Glamann blends a soft pop melody with twinkling guitars, delicate country twangs and steady beats to create a soothing and glowing tune brimming with tenderness. Ethereal soundscapes provide a mellow, laid back atmosphere that is wonderfully consoling and is greatly enhanced by warm velvety vocals. ‘Trying To Love Again’ is wholesome, well crafted, and a joy to listen to.
Singer-songwriter Nate Harar, also known as Dalton, has released his new single ‘This Way’ lifted from his upcoming album, ’To the Woods’, due out October 22nd via AWAL. Dalton released his self-titled debut album on the indie label Fierce Panda Records in 2015. The album was well-received (London In Stereo, NME, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, Drowned In Sound). He then followed that up with a five-song EP released in 2017, along with a second full-length, ‘Take Shelter’, in 2019.
Driving on a swarm of fuzzy guitars, ‘This Way’ is an invigorating new single from Dalton. Filled with lush harmonies, buoyant rhythms and a breezy melody Dalton creates a sweet nostalgic gem laced in euphoric instrumentation – the track packs one hefty shoegaze punch as the blitz of sharp guitars bluster around a dreamy melody and sun-kissed 90’s soundscapes. ‘This Way’ is well crafted and layered to perfection to create a richly textured tune that boasts Dalton’s refined and exhilarating musicianship.
Nory-J has released his new single ‘Tough Cookie’. Nory-J is the indie-pop pseudonym of former Bath phenomenon Jack Spooner. Telling the story of a self-destructive love interest, the song is a quintessentially British journey close to Jack’s heart reflecting his own self-destructive tendencies in a one-way conversation about remaining resilient through tough times. Performed on the biggest stage in Bath, and at a virtual TEDxBSU talk, the song is a hit among live music fanatics and Nory-J fans.
‘Tough Cookie’ is a delicately crafted gem that surges with the sweet and emotive songwriting of Nory-J. The track drifts along warm guitar and an uplifting drum foundation while Nory-J’s smooth vocals caress the tender melody with ease. The track is minimalist in its approach allowing the artists’ narrative to move to the fore as Nory-J croons comforting lyrics over the cinematic sing-along chorus and foot-tapping rhythm, “Don’t be that way, You beat yourself up on a Monday”. ‘Tough Cookie’is a delight to listen to and highlights Nory-J’s effortless sound and wholesome musicianship. Press play and enjoy.
Dublin solo artist Conor Furlong has released his new single ‘Are You Gonna Sleep Tonight?’.The song is the third single to be taken from his upcoming album, ‘Recurring Dream’, which is set for release on the 17th of September.
‘Are You Gonna Sleep Tonight?’ is a lush shoegaze tune bursting with ethereal soundscapes and Conor Furlong’s expressive, irresistible musicianship. Sweet guitar refrains drift through airy atmospherics for the brooding verses before becoming more animated for the chorus. The complex arrangement of the song and deft production leaves much to be admired; the lyrics exude a dark undertone that mirrors the building tension and aggression within the track, “On the trigger, itchy fingers, that’s right blow my brains out, and you just laugh alright” while elements of 90’s rock, psychedelia and shoegaze blend to create an utterly tantalising and refreshing soundscape for listeners to immerse themselves in. Filled with euphoric melodies and showcasing a smooth vocal delivery from Furlong, ‘Are You Gonna Sleep Tonight?’ is a gem to treasure.
Jack Joyce has released his new single ‘Black Cat by the Bins’. The track follows on from Joyce’s sixth single release and current hit single ‘Voodoo Belladonna’ which was released back on 16th July 2021. Early last year (2020) Joyce featured on Mute The TV band’s hit debut single ‘With You’ which got airplay around Ireland.
‘Black Cat by the Bins’ is a mysterious tune that pivots around sultry shivering guitars and chunky rhythms. The lyrics are a dazzling display of Joyce’s artistic talent: clever, poignant and packed with emotion, “let me know if I grow slow, I feel it turning baby something has changed… I saw a black cat by the bins, and I haven’t been the same since”. Joyce injects a sense of unease into the track’s enticing soundscape through the use of sharp riffs and supple lofty pines creating a sinister undertone throughout the song. The complex blend of elements within the song are a joy to listen to and can only be truly appreciated with repeat plays. Joyce has put a lot into his latest release – the track is an expressive, bewitching number filled with character and rich instrumentation.
Fresh off the news of being selected to appear at this year’s Ireland Music Week, Irish multi-instrumentalist Aonair has released his second single, ‘Bad Decisions’, from his upcoming sophomore EP ‘, Loveheart Birthmark’ – due for full release later in 2021.
‘Bad Decisions’ is a powerful, heartfelt tune that showcases Aonair’s melodic prowess and irresistible musicianship. Surging with epic 80’s drenched guitars, heart-racing rhythms, and Aonair’s warm vocals, the track is an ultimate power anthem that exudes a charming dynamic persona. The song is an absolute delight to listen to and beautifully captures escapism through rich instrumentation while the hook-filled chorus evokes images of a live audience jubilantly bellowing back the lyrics. ‘Bad Decisions’ is a fearless piece of music that marks Aonairas an artist to keep an eye on. Looking forward to the EP.
Stream ‘Bad Decisions’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
